Colorado Makes Its Tax Slope Steeper

The far-lefties who give themselves the name 

"progressives" want to stick it to the wealthy

in any way they can, in large part to fund their

dream programs and to expand existing ones.

Their battle cry is "Tax the Rich!" and they have

taken their campaign from state to state, recruiting

and running like-minded candidates for public 

office on that very theme.  

Colorado has a pretty low 4.4% flat income tax

which has been a great attraction for businesses 

and up-and-coming professionals, helping to 

grow the state's population over the past 20 years.

But now the progs want to replace Colorado's 

flat tax with one that has high graduated rates.

Why?

Such a move would make Colorado more like 

California, New York, Illinois, and other high-tax

states which many of its residents have fled.

The proposed ballot Initiative 195 would replace

the flat rate with six income brackets ranging from 

3.7% for individuals earning up to $25,000 to 

8.4% for those earning above $1 million. 

Furthermore, the brackets would not be adjusted  

annually for inflation. More people would rise 

into higher income tax brackets, resulting in paying

more in tax as they proceed. As many small businesses

typically pay at individual rates on pass-through income,

many would get clobbered with large increases.

A family farm that has a good year would be punished 

for their successful year with a higher tax tab. 

Such would be travel along route I-195. 

Under I-195, Colorado would have the highest top tax 

rate in their region of the country; Wyoming has no 

income tax, Arizona's top rate is 2.5%, Utah weighs in 

at 4.45%, and New Mexico at 5.9% 

Colorado has, like most states, been seeing healthy 

revenue growth because of strong capital gains.

Progressives, however, are trying their damnedest to

soak the rich via millionaire taxes such as in Washington

state (9.9%), Rhode Island (8.99%) and Maine (9.15%).

If a recession occurs, these voracious left-wingers will

simply raise taxes even higher. Theirs and government's 

needs above those of the people at all times, don't you know.

In summation, the progs want more money to hand out via

expanding entitlement programs and to reward their union

allies for their electoral support. History tells us that once

that kind of tax system is installed, spending continues to

rise as revenue rises and the rates predictably come along 

for the ride. And in case you thought, my sharp readers, 

that all Democrats favor this robbery, Colorado's 

term-limited governor Jared Polis (D) has declared that a 

progressive income tax would be "absolutely devastating"

to the state's economy. Gov. Polis is, no pun intended,

on the money.

MEM

Two Tragic Anniversaries

Today is the first anniversary of the assassination of 

conservative activist and a true social influencer 

Charlie Kirk. Tomorrow is the twenty-fifth anniversary

of the day terror came calling; the attack on the 

Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the foiled attempt

to attack another target but for the brave efforts

of the passengers on board one of the hijacked planes

who succeeded in bringing down the plane which

crashed into a Pennsylvania field.

We shall keep Kirk and his family in our thoughts 

and payers, and demand that justice be served in

the killer's trial, meting out the rightful measure of

punishment for the villain.

Your sorrowful Peasant will not bring up the body

counts or any other shocking statistics, but will 

quietly pay tribute to the souls we lost that terrible

day. Anyway, you already know that awful information.

But these terrible events have drawn many of our

fellow Americans, conservatives and others from along

the political spectrum together to stand up against 

terrorism from without and against terrorist cells from 

within. As I am typing this posting President Trump is 

waging a successful war against Iran and its equally

nefarious allies to eliminate their ability to foster 

terrorism, and to prevent Iran from having nuclear

weapons to use against our biggest ally in the Middle 

East Israel and other countries. 

Let us pray for God's guidance and strengthening of our 

spirits to assist us in fighting for the preservation of our

country and for victory over our enemies, wherever they 

are. To Charlie Kirk and all the people we lost on these

respective days, The Peasant says "Requiescat in pace".

May none of you have died in vain.

MEM 

The Bidens Are On The Outs

Former First Lady Jill Biden and her vain, snooty,

partner in elitism as well as in marriage former 

President Joe Biden are facing an ever-shrinking 

fan base. The Democrats blame this non-dynamic 

duo for enabling President Trump's return to the 

White House. 

First, She told CBS News Rita Braver that regarding

Joe's performance in his debate against Trump, 

"I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since ...

as I watched it, I thought, 'Oh, my God, he's having 

a stroke.'" (Oops!).

Second, in another interview, she said that had Joe

stayed in the 2024 presidential race he would have 

won (Double oops!).

To be sure, the Bidens have always lied about sensitive

matters such as Joe's feeble health, especially to them-

selves. Your amused Peasant assumes that they actually

believe their own BS. Enjoy your retirement, you losers!

MEM

Dolly Parton, R.I.P.

Usually I post tributes to conservative political

figures of note when they shed this mortal coil,

but today your respectful Peasant is going to 

pay tribute to an American icon, a member of 

Country Western musical royalty, a generous

philanthropist, and a person who loved people

and cared about them so much that she gave over

$600 million to charities in the course of her storied

life and career, and also gave money directly to 

financially struggling people to pay for their medical 

treatments or their college educations or to house,

clothe, and feed them.  

Dolly Parton, regarded by many as the Queen of 

Country Music, left the world's stage two days ago 

to step onto the heavenly stage and join Heaven's

choir. 

Dolly was an unlikely woman to have the life that she

had; born into abject poverty in a one-room cabin 

in Pittman Center, Tennessee, the fourth of twelve

children to her parents, a sharecropper and tobacco

farmer with his own land and a Pentecostal preacher

and his wife. Two of Dolly's songs which she had written

and recorded were based on her childhood memories

about her impoverished but joyful life. Dolly's father

paid the local country doctor with a sack of corn meal

for delivering Dolly, as the Partons had little if any

money. 

Parton began singing in her local church at six years of age.

She went on to sing on local TV and radio shows once word

got out about her singing ability. At 13 Dolly recorded the 

single "Puppy Love" for the Louisiana label Goldband 

Records. It was her first record, and was quickly followed 

by her first appearance at the Grand Ol' Opry, where she met

Johnny Cash. He introduced her as "a little girl here up from 

up in Tennessee" to the audience. Cash also encouraged Dolly

to follow her own instincts regarding her career. It proved to

be the best career advice in the world for the rising singer.

In the 1960s Parton's career gained new and stratospheric heights

as she was signed by musician and country star of the day Porter

Wagoner to be his co-star on his TV show. They had chart success

singing duets together along with Dolly having similar success with

singles. Parton would outgrow her partnership with Wagoner and 

have even more success as a solo performer, though sometimes 

appearing and recording with some fellow singers such as 

Kenny Rogers, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Dolly also

performed for our troops and boosted the United States with her

shows while avoiding falling into politics; she steadfastly refused 

singing any songs with political content and never voiced her 

opinions on political matters, preferring to leave that up to the 

politicians as she said in many an interview. Dolly simply wanted 

to love and accept everyone as they were and for what they were,

and this fortified her already strong popularity. Along the way,

she built Dollywood, a theme park with Dolly's music among the 

may things Dolly being featured. 

Dolly also did some acting in movies, among them the very popular

"9 to 5", as well as "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" in which

she played the Madam!

Although not a political figure to any degree, Dolly Parton was a

living example of the American rags-to-riches ethos. Dolly showed

everyone what was possible in building a successful career and a 

life of accomplishment and plentitude. Most importantly, Dolly

showed the country, and the world, what having a positive outlook

and a kindly, friendly, and characteristic personality could help one

achieve --- and her sharp and laugh-provoking wit certainly helped!

At the age of 80, following a brief bout against cancer, Dolly Parton

passed away, leaving her legacy of love and joy in her music, her films,

and the way she lived her life. She will always be not just an example

but a guiding light for the world to follow. God rest you, earthly angel.

Requiescat in pace. 

MEM

On My Irish Holiday

Your favorite Peasant had a ball as usual, attending

the Milwaukee Irish Fest; getting together with old 

friends and making new ones, enjoying both returning

musical guests and new ones making their Milwaukee

Irish Fest debuts, dining on sublime entrees by Ward's

House of Prime which had a food booth at the fest,

and attending the Irish Mass for Peace and Justice

--- an annual event at the fest every Sunday morning

of the festival weekend, such a beautiful mass, always

with an Irish priest as celebrant.

This year's fest was my 25th, all consecutive. This is why

I call it my annual Irish holiday! 

It's down to business once again next week.

And for the next twelve months your part-Irish Peasant

shall be looking forward to next year's fest with growing

anticipation and eagerness as we approach mid-August 

once again!

MEM

I'll Be Enjoying the Greenery!

Friends. I shall be on my annual Irish holiday from August 13 - 16.

The Milwaukee Irish Fest will take place once again, and your

part-Irish Peasant shall be there with friends and maybe some 

family too! So this week there won't be any posts.

I shall, of course, be with you next week and will tell you about

my grand time at the fest. And perhaps I'll have some commentary

on a news story then as well!

Until then!

MEM

On Pope Leo XIV and Artificial Intelligence

The relatively new Pope Leo XIV has made clear his intention

to write an encyclical about artificial intelligence as soon as he

was chosen to be pope. This has made Magnifica Humanitas 

possibly the most widely anticipated encyclical since at least

Pope John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council. While it 

cautions against "equating this type of 'intelligence' with that

of human beings", it also acknowledges that technology is a 

wonderful part of humanity's God-given capacity for creation 

and invention while rejecting the Luddite view that tech is 

something that is anti-human and therefore anti-humanity.

Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum  is the Catholic Church's

insistence that no new system or technology can justify 

reducing human beings, made in God's image, into cogs

of a larger machine. Humans are therefore ends in themselves,

and that proper end is defined by God, who created people

and casts down the kings and queens from their thrones 

while lifting up the lowly --- meaning this is His way of

exalting the downtrodden and toppling the high and mighty.

Pope Leo XIV 's document gets more than sufficient backing

from Pope Leo XIII's work, giving it intellectual heft.

As a Catholic and as one who has mixed emotions in regards

to artificial intelligence and how it would be utilized, your

curious Peasant is most eager to read the pope's coming

encyclical.

MEM